Film holder

ABSTRACT

A film holder particularly adapted to hold dental X-ray film. The holder includes a pair of laterally spaced legs having notches therein and a third leg which is vertically spaced from the other two legs, and also has a notch therein. The X-ram film is supported at its edges in the three notches.

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Walter A. Lewandowski Hatboro, Pa.

Mar. 10, 1969 Aug. 3. 1971 Uni-Chem Corporation Pennsauken, NJ.

FILM HOLDER 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

118/500, 269/37 Int. Cl G031! 3/10 Field of Search ..95/90, 90.5,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 1/1939 Rinn 6/1942 Krupa et a1. 8/1950 Alberts et a1.

8/1956 lngham 1/1970 Gold .1

FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1954 France 1. 8/ 1927 Great Britain Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney-Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein and Cohen ABSTRACT: A film holder particularly adapted to hold dental X-ray film. The holder includes a pair of laterally spaced legs having notches therein and a third leg which is vertically spaced from the other two legs, and also has a notch therein. The X-ram film is supported at its edges in the three notches.

PATENTED AUG 3 I97! SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR WALTER A. LEWA/VDOWSK/ A TTORNEVS.

FILM HOLDER This invention relates to a film holder, and more particularly, to a film holder adapted for holding dental X-ray film in order to develop and view the X-ray film.

It is now the present practice for dentists to do their own development of the X-rays they take of a patient's teeth. Various devices have been developed for holding the X-ray film in the tank of developer. The most commonly used of all of these holders comprise a vertically extending bar with a hook at the top in order to suspend the bar within the tank. Various means are provided on the bar for holding individual X-ray films. Among the means used are small bars extending outwardly from the vertically extending bar, with the small bars having slots therein. The X-ray film is then inserted between a pair of aligned slots. Devices of this type are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,629,285 and 1,792,005. This type of film holder is unsatisfactory because the film can be inserted between a pair of aligned slots only with a great deal of difficulty. Since the film must be inserted in a relatively dark room, with onlya small red light burning, a great deal of time is required to insert the film in the aligned slots. Additionally, because of the difficulty of inserting the film, the film will nonnally undergo a great deal of handling by the dentist or his technician while it is being inserted.

Another type of holding mechanism that is used on the elongated vertically extending bar is a plurality of spring clips. When using the spring clips, the dentist or technician must first spread the clips to open the jaws with one hand while inserting the film with the other hand. This is also a tedious job when working in limited light. Furthermore, the spring clips will quite often perforate the X-ray film, and in some instances where the utmost care is not exercised, will destroy a portion of the film which the dentist must use in his diagnosis and analysis. Also, substantial handling is required to insert the X-ray film into the spring clips, and quite often the dentist or technician will leave his fingerprints on the film when making the insertion.

The device of this invention overcomes all of the difficulties of the prior art X-ray film holders. The X-ray film is easily inserted into the holding device with a minimum of handling. All that is necessary to insert the film is for the dentist to hold the film by its two lateral edges. Accordingly, there is no fear of placing fingerprints on the face of the film when inserting it into the film holder.

Once the film has been inserted in the device of this invention, it is securely held in place. Even if the device is dropped, it has been found that the film will not be jarred loose. Furthermore, the device is configured in such a manner that even if the device is dropped, the film will not come in contact with the floor. Utilizing the elongated bar holders presently being used, if the bar is dropped, all ofthe film will contact the floor, which obviously is an unsatisfactory condition.

In addition to holding the film for development purposes the device of this invention can also be utilized to hold the film for viewing purposes by the dentist. Thus, immediately after the film has been developed, the dentist can view the film, while still in the holder, by holding the holder up to a light source. In this way, the dentist can X-ray a patients teeth, develop the X-rays within a short period of time, and then use the X-rays to enable the completion of the work on the patients teeth.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel film holder.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel holder that is particularly adapted for use in developing and holding dental X-ray film.

These and other objects can be accomplished by providing a film holder comprising a support, a pair of laterally spaced legs laterally extending from said support, a third leg laterally extending from said support, said third leg being vertically spaced from said pair of legs, and means on each of said legs for supporting an X-ray film at an edge thereof.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of a tank for supporting the film holder of this invention, with parts broken away for the purpose of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the elements comprising the film holder assembly of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. ll; and

FIG. 4i is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a film holder embodying the present invention is generally shown at It) in FIG. 2. Device 10 basically comprises a central cylinder I2, six equally spaced upper legs 14 extending laterally outward from cylinder 12, and six equally spaced lower legs 16 extending laterally from cylinder 12.

Cylinder 112 is solid, but includes a Y-shaped slot 18 which passes vertically through the center thereof. As seen in FIG. 3, each leg 14 is integrally molded with central cylinder 12. Each leg M comprises a narrow bar 20 having a bevelled edge, and a flattened end portion 22. The flattened end includes a notch 24 on each of its lateral sides. F lattened end 22 additionally includes an opening 26 having a bevelled edge 28.

Legs l6 are also molded integrally with cylinder 12. As seen in FIG. 2, each leg 16 projects laterally outward from cylinder 12, but is downwardly inclined. As seen in FIG. 4, the legs 16 are equally spaced, and each leg lies in a vertical plane which is midway between a pair of upper legs 14. Each leg 16 includes an upwardly projecting tip 30 at its outer end which forms a notch 32.

Film holder I0 is adapted to support and hold six dental X ray films. One film is shown at 34 in FIG. 2 as being supported within holder 10. As seen in FIG. 2, the lateral edges 36 of the I dental X-ray film are supported between a pair of adjacent notches 24 in upper legs 14. The lower edge 38 of the film is supported in notch 32 of the leg 16 which is positioned between the pair of upper legs supporting the edges of the film. The film is inserted by grasping the lateral edges 36 between the thumb and fire finger, and slightly bending the film until its lateral edges are spaced a distance less than the distance between a pair of notches 24. With the lower edge 38 resting on the notch 32, the pressure against the film is released and the lateral edges are securely held in place by the pair of notches 24 in the upper legs. Because of the shape of the notches 24, the film 34 will be self-seating within the notches, and accordingly the film is easily inserted. Thus, it is preferred to have a wide V forming the notches 24, with the legs of the V preferably forming an obtuse angle in order to aid in the insertion of the X-ray film. It is thus seen that the X- ray film 3d is easily inserted into the film holder 10. Since the film is grasped only by its edges, there is no fear of placing fingerprints on the face of the film. Holder 10 is adapted for supporting six individual X-ray films. The other five films are inserted in the same manner as the film 34. After the film has been inserted in the holder, the film is developed while remaining on the holder. Any developer solution and technique known to the art can be used with the film holder of this invention, and the specific development technique and solution form no part of this invention. Accordingly, the film can be developed in a conventional three-step system comprising developing, stopping and fixing, or can be used in a monobath solution. Once the film has been developed, the dentist can then use the holder 10 for supporting the film while analyzing the X-ray pictures.

One of the features of the film older of this invention is the fact that the film 34 is securely held by its edges within the film holder 110. Thus, it has been found that even if the film holder 10 is dropped while it holds six X-ray films therein, none of the films will be jarred loose. Furthermore, device 10 is configured to prevent the contacting of the X-ray film with the floor or any other surface in the event that the holder is dropped. Thus, if the holder should be dropped, only the legs 14 or 16 or the support 12 will contact the floor. Contrasted with this, using the prior art elongated bars with the films projecting therefrom in a single plane will result in the contact of the film with the floor when the bar is dropped.

Normally, when developing the dental X-ray film, three of the film holders will be used as a group. Accordingly, a support generally shown at 40 is provided for the film holders. The support 40 comprises a central hub 42, three legs 44 depending from the hub, and a central shaft 46 projecting upwardly from the hub. As seen in FIG. 3, the hub 42, legs 44 and shaft 46 are integrally molded. However, if desired, the shaft 46 can be made removable from the hub 42 by securing the shaft in place by a forced fit. As best seen in FIG. 2, shaft 46 comprises three equally spaced, divergent bars 48.

The film holders 110 are mounted on support 40 by inserting the legs 48 of the central shaft 46 into Y-shaped slot 118 of the central cylinder 12 of each film holder 10. In FIG. 3, the support 40 is shown as having three separate film holders 10 mounted thereon. The upper portion of central support 12 is sufficiently high to prevent any interference with the film on the next highest film holder 10.

A tank 50 is provided for the developer solution for the X- ray film. Tank 50 is preferably molded from an opaque plastic, and includes a central raised portion 52 at the bottom thereof (FIG. 3). The raised portion 52 provides an annular well 54 adjacent the outer wall of the tank. An annular supporting rim 56 is formed near the top of the tank. The purpose of rim 56 is to permit the insertion of the tank in a hole formed in the top of a laboratory table. The inserted tank will then rest on the rim 56. A disc-shaped float is provided for the tank. Float 58 comprises a disc 60 having an upwardly extending annular rim 62. A hollow cylinder 64 projects upwardly from a central opening 66 (FIG. 3) formed in disc 60. As seen in FIG. 3, float 58 is a unitary molded element.

A lid 68 is provided for the tank 50. Lid 68 includes an annular channel 70 which forms a central hub 72. Channel 70 also forms an interior channel 74 adjacent the outer perimeter of the lid 68. The lid is carried or moved by inserting the fingers in channel 70 and grasping hub 72. As seen in FIG. 3, lid 68 is a unitary molded element.

In use, the undeveloped dental X-ray film 34 is inserted into the notches provided in a film holder 10. A maximum of six separate films can be inserted on each holder 10. Thereafter, one, two or three film holders are placed on support 40. In the embodiment of the invention shown, a maximum of three film holders can be used, thereby enabling the developing of 18 separate X-ray films at one time. Under most circumstances, this embodiment of the invention will enable the developing of a full mouth series of X-rays, which normally will not comprise more than 18 separate films. Alternatively, the device can be used for developing the X-ray films from the mouths of three patients, with each patient having its own separate marked holder 10. It is to be understood, of course, that if desired, the size of the tank can be increased to accommodate a larger number of film holders 10. Also the size of the film holders can be varied to accommodate varying sizes of dental X-ray films.

After the three film holders 10 have been placed on support 40, there is a small portion of the central shaft 46 projecting above the uppermost film holder 10, as seen in FIG. 3. The support is grasped by this upper portion and inserted in tank 50. When so inserted, the bottom of legs 84 rest in well 54. Prior to inserting the support with the film holders and their associated film thereon into the tank 50, the tank is filled with liquid 76. The liquid 76 can be a monobath solution which will develop and fix the X-ray film or it can be simply a developer solution. If it is a developer solution, separate tanks will be necessary in order to provide a stop bath and a fixer bath. However, as pointed out above, it should be kept in mind that the device of this invention is adapted for use with all types of developer solutions, and accordingly the specific developer solution forms no part of this invention.

After the support 40 with its associated film holders has been inserted in the tank, float 53 is placed in the tank by sliding the hollow cylinder 64 over the top of shaft 46 (FIG. 3). When thus inserted, float 58 will be floating on the liquid 76. Thereafter, lid 68 is placed on tank 50 with the top of the wall of the tank abutting the inner side of the top of lid 68. As seen in FIG. 3, when the lid is placed on the tank, the rim 62 of float 58 is received in the annular channel 74 of the lid, and the in dented portion comprising channel is received within the confines of rim 62.

The purpose of float 58 is to prevent contact between the air above the liquid 76 and the liquid. Accordingly, the diame' ter of disc 60 is just slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the tank 50. The diameter of hole 66 in float 58 is also kept at a minimum. Furthermore, the lid 68 is configured to have a minimum of airspace between the top of the liquid and the top of the tank 50. The reason that all of these precautions are taken is that developer solutions will rapidly oxidize when exposed to the air. When they are oxidized, they are no longer effective for developing X-ray film. Accordingly, every reasonable precaution should be taken to prevent air contamination of the developer solution. Thus, the float 58 will be placed in the tank whenever there is liquid in the tank, regardless of whether any film is being developed. The float 58 will prevent air contamination of the developer solution by isolating the solution from the air in the tank above the solution. There is very little contamination or oxidation that can be achieved with the small opening 66 being present in the float 58. By providing the float 58 and having the lid 68 relatively close to the top of the liquid level obviates the necessity of removing the developer solution from the tank after it has been used. Utilizing the prior art stainless steel tanks, the liquid must be removed from the tank after it is used and must be stored in bottles.

When using a separate developer solution, stop bath and fixer, the support 40 and its associated film holders 10 can easily be moved from one tank to another by lifting them out of the tank through the use of the top of the support 40. As seen in FIG. 3, the film holders 10 are prevented from moving vertically by abutment against the top of hub 42. of support 40. Additionally, the film holders will not rotate on shaft 46 since they are keyed to the shaft by the engagement of legs 48 of the shaft in the Y-shaped slots 18 of the film holders. The prevention of rotational movement of the film holders relative to the shaft is important in connection with the developer solution. Thus, during the developing process, silver salts are precipitated out of the solution. These salts will collect along the edges of the tank in the well 54. The purpose of having the well is to provide a confined area in which to collect the salts, rather than have the salts present across the entire bottom of the tank. If the support 40 is lifted vertically from the tank, the legs 44 will not agitate the precipitated salts, and they will remain precipitated out of the solution, rather than being disbursed in the solution every time the support is removed. The openings 26 have bevelled edges 28 to aid in the draining of the solution back into the tank when the support is lifted vertically out of the tank. Likewise, the bevelled edges on the bars 20 aid in preventing the accumulation of any liquid on the film holders. After the support 40 with its associated film holders has been removed, the float 58 is replaced in the tank in order to prevent oxidation and evaporation of the solution, as explained above.

The film holder 10, the support 40, the tank 50, the float 58 and the cover 68 are all molded from a plastic that is inert to the chemicals used for the development of the X-ray film. Plastics which are usable for this purpose are polyethylene, polypropylene, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadine-styrene), polyvinylidene chloride, and styrene acrylonitrile. Light has a deleterious effect on the developer solution, and for this reason the tank 50 and lid 68 should be opaque, or at least translucent. For this reason, the tank and lid are provided with an opaque coating or, preferably, the plastics from which these materials are made are provided with opaque pigments. Any of the pigments known to the art which are inert to the developer solutions can be used for this purpose.

The film holder is free standing on legs 16 while holding the film therein. This is a distinct advantage over the prior art bars of lower legs laterally extending from said support, said lower legs being vertically spaced from said upper legs, with each of said lower legs being positioned in a plane between a pair of said upper legs, means on each of said legs for supporting an X-ray film at an edge thereof, each adjacent pair of said upper legs being spaced a distance which is less than the width of said X-ray film, whereby said X-ray film can be held at its edges by a pair of adjacent upper legs and one of said lower legs, with said X-ray film being in an arcuate shape, and whereby said X-ray film can be inserted between said legs by grasping said film at the lateral edges thereof and bending said film into said arcuate shape for positioning between said legs.

2. The film holder of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said X-ray film comprise notches formed in each of said legs.

3. The film holder of claim 1 wherein each has a pair of notches formed therein, with said notches being on opposite lateral sides of said leg, said notches comprising the means on said upper legs for supporting said X-ray film.

4. The film support of claim 1 wherein each of said lower legs lies in a vertical plane that is midway between a pair of said upper legs.

5. An X-ray film holder assembly comprising a plurality of film holders mounted in vertical alignment, each of said film holders comprising a cylindrical support, a plurality of laterally spaced upper legs radially extending from said cylindrical support, said upper legs being equally spaced around said support and lying in the same horizontal plane, a plurality of lower legs laterally extending from said support, said lower legs being vertically spaced from said upper legs, with each of said lower legs being positioned in a plane between a pair of said upper legs, means on each of said legs for supporting an X'ray film at an edge thereof, each adjacent pair of said upper legs being spaced a distance which is less than the width of said X-ray film, whereby said X-ray film can be held at its edges by a pair of adjacent upper legs and one of said lower legs, with said X-ray film being in an arcuate shape, and whereby said X-ray film can be inserted between said legs by grasping said film at the lateral edges thereof and bending said film into said arcuate shape for positioning between said legs.

of said upper legs 

1. A film holder comprising a cylindrical support, a plurality of laterally spaced upper legs radially extending from said cylinder support, said upper legs being equally spaced around said support and lying in the same horizontal plane, a plurality of lower legs laterally extending from said support, said lower legs being vertically spaced from said upper legs, with each of said lower legs being positioned in a plane between a pair of said upper legs, means on each of said legs for supporting an Xray film at an edge thereof, each adjacent pair of said upper legs being spaced a distance which is less than the width of said X-ray film, whereby said X-ray film can be held at its edges by a pair of adjacent upper legs and one of said lower legs, with said X-ray film being in an arcuate shape, and whereby said X-ray film can be inserted between said legs by grasping said film at the lateral edges thereof and bending said film into said arcuate shape for posiTioning between said legs.
 2. The film holder of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said X-ray film comprise notches formed in each of said legs.
 3. The film holder of claim 1 wherein each of said upper legs has a pair of notches formed therein, with said notches being on opposite lateral sides of said leg, said notches comprising the means on said upper legs for supporting said X-ray film.
 4. The film support of claim 1 wherein each of said lower legs lies in a vertical plane that is midway between a pair of said upper legs.
 5. An X-ray film holder assembly comprising a plurality of film holders mounted in vertical alignment, each of said film holders comprising a cylindrical support, a plurality of laterally spaced upper legs radially extending from said cylindrical support, said upper legs being equally spaced around said support and lying in the same horizontal plane, a plurality of lower legs laterally extending from said support, said lower legs being vertically spaced from said upper legs, with each of said lower legs being positioned in a plane between a pair of said upper legs, means on each of said legs for supporting an X-ray film at an edge thereof, each adjacent pair of said upper legs being spaced a distance which is less than the width of said X-ray film, whereby said X-ray film can be held at its edges by a pair of adjacent upper legs and one of said lower legs, with said X-ray film being in an arcuate shape, and whereby said X-ray film can be inserted between said legs by grasping said film at the lateral edges thereof and bending said film into said arcuate shape for positioning between said legs. 